Culture Assessments

OUR CULTURE ASSESSMENTS ENSURE THAT "HOW THINGS ARE DONE" ARE FAIR AND INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE

Provides a baseline measurement of how the culture of a school, business or organization impacts its people.

Two components of the assessment:

A review of the policies, communications, processes, values, traditions and rituals for fairness, inclusiveness,
unintended consequences, and long-term impact.

A survey, focus group or interview of the people for their perspectives on how well the rules are being followed,
enforced, and how people are held accountable for their actions.

Why?
When the culture of a school, business or organization contradicts what that school, business or organization says it
stands for, credibility is lost and reputations are tarnished. And, when the people within a school, business or organization
don't follow the rules, values and ethics, it sets the stage that accountability isn't important or a priority.

A company policy states an employee will receive one 15-minute break per 6-hour work shift, yet the employees
who smoke are seen outside the building taking several smoke breaks throughout the 6-hour shift.

The school's dress code policy indicates that shorts and skirts must be of a certain length. Yet, cheerleaders are
allowed to wear their uniforms during game day and the length of the skirt on the uniform is shorter than the policy states.

Some of the terminology used in the organization's newsletter is outdated and can be misconstrued as offensive to
certain members and supporters.

The policy states that no eating is allowed at the reception desk and that a certain dress code must be followed yet
some of the front desk associates eat while working and wear clothing that go against the dress code policy.

OutcomesCultures that are:

Fair to everyone;

Appropriately aligned with what a school, business or organization says they represent;

Ingrained into the way of doing business; and

Consistently enforced with consequences.

The JCC's Culture Assessments ensure all people are following the values, rules and beliefs that a school, business or
organization holds dear, while providing a "fresh lens" to past traditions, rituals and habits that may need to be tweaked
based on today's demographics.
Hear what some participants had to say about Culture Assessments:

"We used the term sexual preference in our anti-discrimination policy. We didn't know that phrase is outdated and is now replaced with sexual orientation. Making a little change like this speaks volumes."

"The data showed that although we have a policy that no cell phones are to be out while in a classroom setting, several teachers were letting the students use them during free time. Their intentions were good but give the mindset that breaking the rules is okay."

"We found out that we do some things just because they've always been done. Having a fresh perspective helped us to see the simple and little things we've overlooked, yet can have a great impact."